''He's an aggressive lineman, and he's got a mean streak in him,'' B-CC Coach Larry Little said. ''I like that in the offensive lineman. A lot of offensive linemen are technicians, but he's not afraid to mix it up.''

Although just a freshman, Lewis the student and player is listed as a starter at left guard - the first time in Little's six years at B-CC that a first-year freshman has started on the offensive line.

Part of the reason for that is a lack of returning starters on the B-CC line. Only senior center Michael Willis returns as a starter. ''I knew we were in dire need of help on the offensive line,'' Little said. ''I was hoping one or two of them incoming freshman could start, and Edmund's the one who has stepped forward.''

Blackmon agrees, though he gives more of the credit to Lewis.

''We needed to look at some of the younger guys this year, and he's the best one we've got,'' Blackmon said. ''He's got speed, strength, smarts and quickness - everything an offensive lineman needs. He could have been a Division-I starter in a couple years.

''He proved to be one of the best athletes we've got on the offensive line. Even in the walk-throughs we had, we could tell he'd be something else. He beat a couple seniors even then.''

Then the upperclassmen tried to beat on him.

''The older guys like to check out a freshman, find out what he's got,'' said Andre Ragin, who as a red-shirt freshman considers himself one of the ''older guys.''

Blackmon understands. ''Sometimes the upperclassmen try to take advantage of a freshman, but Edmund wouldn't let them. He's serious, and I think he's gained a lot of respect.''

Whereas freshmen were expected to take a shove from an upperclassman and just return to the huddle, Lewis sought out his attackers.

Then he returned the favor.

''When he retaliated, we were surprised, and the other freshmen were surprised,'' Ragin said. ''They upperclassmen just pushed him and headed back to the huddle, but he came up behind them and told them, 'You can't do that to me.' ''

But not in so many words, Ragin said.

''Nah, he didn't have to actually say anything.''

Lewis shrugs off the event. ''I had a few people try to test me, and I got in a few fights,'' he said, ''but it's about what I expected. Everybody here hits a lot harder.

''Don't get me wrong - I have all the respect in the world for those guys, but you've just got to let them know you're not going to be intimidated.''

He still gets teasing, though, Ragin pointed out.

''We tell him things like, 'Don't look at us, this is an upperclassmen conversation. You go somewhere and have a freshman conversation,' '' Ragin said. ''It's just a matter of reminding him that he's a freshman, keeping him humble. But once we get on that field, he's not a freshman anymore. He's got to play like a veteran.''

Ragin said that's not hard for Lewis. ''He doesn't play like a freshman. He plays like he's been here a couple years.''